The Quiet Arsenal Of India's Influence
By Manu Shrivastava
In the annals of India’s post-independence history, the
defence sector had long been shackled by a dependence on foreign suppliers.
Decades of licence-raj lethargy, red-tape bureaucracy, and an over-reliance on
Soviet and later Russian technology had created the perception — and to an
extent, the reality — of an India content to buy rather than build. The global
arms market saw New Delhi as a client state, not a contender.
That perception began to shift sharply after Narendra Modi assumed power. Under his leadership, the mantra of Atmanirbhar Bharat — self-reliant India — was not mere rhetoric; it became the foundation of an aggressive, results-driven military-industrial overhaul.
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The “Make in India” initiative, coupled with targeted reforms in defence procurement policy, fast-tracked indigenous research, eased private sector participation, and encouraged export-oriented manufacturing.
In 2014, India’s defence exports barely scraped a few hundred million dollars — mostly comprising spare parts and basic equipment. By 2025, the figure had nearly crossed the $3 billion threshold. And this was not a matter of quantity over quality.
The exports now include advanced indigenous
systems that have proven their mettle in both domestic deployment and
international trials.
Indigenous fighter jets like the Tejas Mk1A and upcoming Mk2, once dismissed as underpowered prototypes, are now patrolling foreign skies. The BrahMos missile system, co-developed with Russia but increasingly indigenised, has become the crown jewel of India’s export arsenal, with Southeast Asian allies — wary of Chinese maritime aggression — queuing up to acquire it.
African nations, seeking to modernise their forces without falling
prey to Western conditionalities or Chinese debt traps, are turning to India
for surveillance drones, artillery, and secure communications systems.
Beyond the transactional, India’s defence export drive is a strategic play in the great game of geopolitics. Every contract signed is a relationship deepened; every shipment dispatched is a statement of alignment.
By arming nations that share its vision of a multipolar, rules-based order,
India extends its influence without deploying troops or raising a flag. It
builds alliances that are not just political, but tangible — sealed in steel,
silicon, and precision engineering.
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This model resonates particularly in the Global South,
where historical memories of exploitative defence deals remain fresh.
The strategic dividends are already visible. Indian-origin systems now form part of joint exercises with ASEAN navies, African peacekeeping forces, and even Latin American border patrols.
The world’s
perception of India has shifted from that of a passive arms consumer to that of
a responsible, dependable supplier capable of influencing regional balances of
power.
Nearing the $3 billion mark in 2025 is not merely an economic milestone; it is a geopolitical signal. It tells adversaries that India’s defence ecosystem is robust enough to equip not just itself, but like-minded nations across the globe.
It warns those who threaten India’s
sovereignty that countermeasures will be swift, sophisticated, and supported by
a network of allies wielding Indian arms.
The quiet arsenal of influence is no longer so quiet. It hums, it grows, and it extends India’s reach far beyond its borders — without a single shot fired in anger.
